SPRING WHEAT PRODUCTION
 
 Other Spring Wheat. Growers produced an estimated 466 million bushels (12.7 million 
 metric tons) of spring wheat other than durum in 1986, 2 percent less than in 1985 and 9 
 percent more than in 1984. Yield averaged 32 bushels per acre, down 3.8 bushels from the 
 record high in 1984. Area harvested totaled 14.6 million acres (5.7 million hectares) up 
 9 percent from the 13.4 million acres (5.3 million hectares) harvested in 1985.
 
 Seeding of the 1986 spring wheat crop was quite variable in timing. Seeding varied from 
 slightly earlier than normal to much later than normal since wet weather was quite 
 prevalent the first several weeks in May in the Dakotas and Minnesota. The growing season 
 was characterized by excess moisture in July which provided an environment for heavy 
 disease infections of scab and the leaf spotting organisms, especially on the later 
 seeded wheat. Harvest progressed in a relatively normal fashion after a wet period. 
 Western Dakotas had more favorable rainfall and much better yields compared to the last 
 several years.
 
 Durum Wheat. The 1986 crop is an estimated 93 million bushels (2.51 million metric tons), 
 down 12% from 1984 and 1985. Harvested yield averaged 33.1 bushel/acres this year, 1.7 
 bushels less than 1985, and similar to 1984. Late seeding and wet conditions encouraged 
 severe leaf spot and scab in the northern growing area.